The Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday, Feb. 5, held a special board meeting with invited guests to discuss facility planning, the possibility of building renovations and developments and the affect they may have on the school system.

Some of the invited guests included: Berkeley’s WLC Architects, Inc., which specializes in creating updated, modern green buildings and learning environments; Sacramento-based Jack Schreder & Associates, an educational consulting firm that specializes in helping schools with facility planning based on district analysis; and Isom Advisors, Inc., of Walnut Creek, a company that specializes in school financing, voter surveys and election preparations.

The companies were there to present possible actions and considerations to be taken into account for the schools of Rohnert Park. “Obviously the future is not everything we thought it would be,” said Kevin MacGuarrie, of WLC Architects, Inc.. “There is a very different way children are looking at the future.”

According to MacGuarrie, much could be renovated in CRPUSD schools, from classroom appliances, structure and even the possibility of updating the curriculum to include tech books (electronic text books). Purchasing an iPad or similar electronic device to be at a student’s disposal would actually cost a school less than purchasing textbooks and computers, according to MacGuarrie’s presentation.

“It’s important to know where your community is and where it’s heading,” said Cheryl King, an associate of Jack Schreder.She and Schreder gave a presentation highlighting possible housing developments, living demographics and the changes it could bring to schools. In the presentation, it was noted how Rohnert Park has seen an influx of young couples without children, and how developers have talked of creating new luxury apartments in the city in preparation of such couples having children in the future. The latter has yet to become a concrete plan and, should plans evolve, developments would not be seen for at least 15-20 years.

No resolutions had been officially introduced. The Board of Trustees will meet again on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 6 p. m. at Mountain Shadows Educational Center. Each meeting is streamed live, online at www.crpusd.org and every meeting is open to the public to listen in and ask questions.